Committee urged to stand ready for search, rescue missions

Hanoi (VNA) – The National Committee for Search and Rescue must always stand ready for timely and effective response to any incidents and natural disasters.

Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung made the request while attending a ceremony to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the committee in Hanoi on October 21.

He said natural calamities such as floods and landslides as well as climate change and rising sea level have become more complicated and unpredictable, alongside hidden risks of big accidents.

Since the beginning of this year, the damaging cold in the north, the prolonged drought in the south-central and Central Highland regions, the saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, and the maritime environmental incident in the four central provinces have seriously affected the country’s socio-economic development as well as local life and production, he added.

In that context, there are many shortcomings that need to be fixed in search and rescue work, especially those related to capacity, forecast quality, equipment and the building of prevention measures, he noted.

Dung asked the committee to coordinate with relevant ministries and localities in building maps defining areas prone to natural disasters, especially flood and landslide, so as to have proper population planning and minimise consequences.

On the occasion, the Deputy PM granted the first-class Labour Order to the National Committee for Search and Rescue.

Between 2006 and 2015, the search and rescue forces handled 35,221 incidents, saving 34,136 people.-VNA